Detoxification is the process of removing toxins from the body or cleaning the blood. It does this mainly by the liver removing impurities from the blood, where toxins are processed for elimination. By giving your body nutrients found in natural, healthy (they’re called healthy for a reason) foods, you can help your liver out by giving it what it needs, and help your other organs clean themselves and flush the toxins out of your body.

Once you begin a detox diet, you will start feeling better all over, you will have more energy, your skin will clear up, your digestion will be normal, and your mind will be sharper among many, many other things. You might even notice some medical conditions caused by diet clearing up (you’d be surprised to know just how much your diet affects you).

When starting a detox, if these foods are not a big part of your normal diet, then work them in gradually to avoid feeling a little worse before you feel better, as your body would have a chance to acclimate to all the changes taking place in it. Make sure to drink lots of water to flush the toxins out as they are removed from your tissues by the enzymes and vitamins in the detox foods. It is recommended that you stick to a regimen of mainly fruits and vegetables. If you are having a hard time staying away from meat, fish and lean chicken in small amounts are ideal choices. Stay away from processed foods and sugar completely, and no alcohol…unless it is one glass of red wine a day.

Below is a list of the top ten foods or food groups that are essential to a successful detoxification.

Fruits: Fruits like apples, grapes, cherries, kiwis, bananas, plums, pears, apricots, berries, and tomatoes are extremely high in liquid-content, helping the body wash out toxins. They are also very easy to digest and are high in antioxidants, nutrients, fiber and many important vitamins like vitamin C. I recommend making a fresh fruit smoothie with low fat yogurt.

Green Foods: When you are ready to detox your body, stock up on blue green algae, barley, wheatgrass, kale, spinach, spirulina, alfalfa, chard, arugula or other organic leafy greens. These plants will help give a chlorophyll-boost to your digestive tract. Chlorophyll rids the body of harmful environmental toxins from smog, heavy metals, herbicides, cleaning products and pesticides. Be aware though that leafy greens contain a high amount of vitamin A, which, if taken in large quantities over time can result in vitamin A toxicity, due to building up in your liver.

Lemons, Oranges & Limes: These citrus wonders aid the body in flushing out toxins, as well as jump-start the digestive tract with enzymatic processes. They also aid the liver in its cleansing processes. Vitamin C is one of the best detox vitamins around, as it transforms toxins into digestible material. To increase detoxification, start each morning with a warm glass of lemon juice and water or fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Garlic: This pungent little bulb is one of the best detox foods out there. It helps stimulate the liver into producing important detoxification enzymes that will help filter out toxic residues in the digestive system. I recommend adding sliced or cooked garlic to any dish, as this will help aid any detox diet.

Broccoli Sprouts: Extremely high in antioxidants, broccoli sprouts can help stimulate the detoxification enzymes in the digestive tract like no other vegetable. The sprouts are actually more effective than the fully-grown vegetable. I recommend steaming the sprouts and eating with vegetable stock and brown rice.

Dandelion Leaves: Raw dandelion leaves have diuretic properties which assists your body in flushing out toxins . They are also very high in protein, dietary fiber, Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K, and calcium, so it’s a good filler food. You can also make a tea from dandelion root and cinnamon extract that aids in the detoxification process.

Mung Beans: The mung bean has been used by Ayurvedic doctors for thousands of years. It is incredibly easy to digest, and absorbs toxic residue on the sides of the intestinal walls.

Raw Vegetables: Onions, carrots, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, garlic, beet, turmeric, bean sprouts and oregano. The combination of these foods will help your liver purge toxins during the cleansing process. These are high in naturally occurring sulfur and glutathione. Sulfur helps the liver detoxify harmful chemicals. Avoid eating veggies with dips or processed dressings; instead try a salad with home made apple cider vinaigrette (press and hold ctrl+f and type apple on this page for a recipe)

Seeds & Nuts: Incorporate some easily digestible seeds and nuts into your diet. They are a good alternative source of protein for those of you opting to give up all meats during the cleanse. This include organic almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds, and pine nuts. Avoid peanuts and all nut butters.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids / Oils: Use only organic, refined, extra-virgin: coconut oil, olive oil, hemp oil, and flaxseed oil while detoxing. Along with added health benefits of each type of oil, this will help lubricate the intestinal walls, allowing the toxins to be absorbed by the oil, and eliminated by the body.

Like this:

Related

3 Comments

Great post & I agree with everything except Green Tea. Most people are unaware of this, but green tea is not as healthy as we perceive it to be. It contains high amounts of fluoride… like our wines, tea is also valued the same way in age type, region, quality, wild or prapagation & process quality. Only young fresh leaves of green tea (organic or wild hand picked) are consisted safer and has low traces of fluoride, white tea leaves even much less. Best is herbal teas… read more @ http://ybertaud9.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/green-tea-fluoride-the-thyroid/